The Republican journal., 1887-05-05
Maine Matters.


Record says: Some have an idea that the Maine |
railroads are showing morbid conscientious
ness in obeying the law. or in other words, that |
they are making its requirements an excuse for
bleeding their patrons. The ''runners" es-
pecialy are full of grievances. For one thing
their extra baggage, which was formerly taken
along with them for little or nothing is now
subject to what they consider as eXorbitant
charges One man said the other day that he
had just been obliged to pay $3.50 on account
of baggage that before the change would have
been carried for very small sum. Another
said that on one trip he had found it to be his
cheapest course to buy an extra ticket, and
still another sent his baggage by express. The
travelling men generally say that they shall
patronize the boats in all cases where practca-
bic. 1t is thought by some that the Grand
Trunk road will in the end secure a consider
able increase of traffic as a result of the present
situation. OF the business centres of the State,
Bangor probably fares the worst from the new
order OF things, and Representative Boutelle
will be expected to raise his voice iii congress
to a high pitch for the repeal, to which many
Maine people are looking forward with conf
dcnce.
Although business in general is just now
rather dull in many towns, and especially so in
some, one branch is flouriShing and apparently
increasing. 1t is the lottery business. Accord
ing to reports in nearly every village of any
considerable size i'll the State, there num-
DtI VI ItSuidI patrons VI lLt IoulSHlld OF
Kentucky lottery. and thousands of dollars
have been sent from some of the cities. Little
items are continually appearing in some of the
newspapers concerning the good luck of so and
so, and these of course are better advertisements
for the business than column in display type
would be. The use of the mails in connection
with lottery schemes is. as every one knows.
criminal offence. and Yet in one large village in
this state the clerk in the post office. who
really acts as postmaster, takes regularly each
month two dollars of the sum which the gov
eminent pays for his services and invests in
one Of the lotteries. He perhaps could give
the post office department some interesting in
formation in regard to improper use of the
mails.
TIE CONDITION OF THE MILITIA.
Adjt. Gen. Gallagher, in his forthcoming re-
port, says that the militia gained considerable |
strength last year. Al the close of 1SS5 it was
composed of SO officers and $40 enlisted men.
At present it consists of - officers and l0l6 |
men, organized as follows: Two regiments OF
infantry of eight companies each. one com |
pany of infantry unattached. Frontier Guards |
of Eastport, and the l>t Maine battery. COM
posed of two patoon>, with five commissioned |
officers. and 20 men. with four light 12-pound- i
ers. or Napoleon brass guns, with mbcrs and |
carriages and cai>Sons.
The reserve militia consists of 10 commits |
stoned officers and Isl en- ted men. There |
are in the State 33,446 men "'w een the ages |
of Is and 4j years liable to military duty. The |
States Springfield brccch-loading rii'es, caiber |
A, model of 1873. which requ red TO be |
kept in the armorie> and in good rondition
The Acknowledgement criticises the lach of dis |
cipline at muster. Inspection has been neg
lected the past year. The acknowledgement
thinks that all commissioned officers should be |
appointed by the Governor.
The inspector of rifle practice, Col. Earring |
ton. reports that, while the militia started in |
with zeal and industry. they closed the season |
discouraged and demorazed because they We're |
notified by the Governor that the appropriation |
would not admit of holding the fall COMPETE |
tons. Col. Harrington wants the State to fix |
the amount that may be expended by the de-
partnent of rifle practice The establishment |
OF two State ranges is imperatively demanded |
For seven years the companies have maintain |
ed ranges at their own expense.
SUICIDE IN PORTLAND.
Monday morning between l anG o'clock |
Alice Cobb. girl about 20 years of age. who |
resides at - Green street, Portland. shot and |
killed herself. The weapon used was revol- |
yer. The cause of the act no doubt des- |
pondency. as she had lately had considerable |
trouble. so it is said. She shot herself in the |
left breast and only lived few minutes. The |
shot aroused the people i'll the building. which |
is boarding mouse, and for Il time there was |
considerable excitement. 1t is said that Miss
Cobb had attempted to take her life once or
twice before by poison. Mr.. Albion Cobb is
the girls father and he is carpenter by trade |
The following letter was found pinned on the
wall:
PORTLAND:
am not crazy. but my heath is Jroheu. A
dead wOman's CURSE on ALL who have wrong
ed ME. Father wants Inc to DIE. | will DO
So But if my spirit can come BACK I'll haunt |
him till he dies. Take my letter to MAGGIE for |
her to burn. am weary of LIVING and SUI
FERING. FATHER has driven me to THIS.
ALICE.
1t is thought by those who knew the girl that |
she had brooded over her troubles much that |
she had become crazed. An inquest was held |
and the coroners jury, after a session of three |
hours, rendered the following verdict: ''That |
deceased came to her death 1T Portland, on
April 30th, 1887. by means of a pistol shot fired |
by her own hand.'
TIE LAW AND THE LIQUOR.
The attempt to nuify the United States tax |
clause of the new liquor law has resulted in a |
hZZle. AS the matter now stands The Gardiner |
rumseer. against whom Murphy refused to |
testify, has been convicted. The testimony of |
Mr. Goddard who visited Ellsworth and found |
the rumsellers name on the tax list, ruled |
in by the judge, on the ground that the original |
record could not be obtained The heroic self |
denial of martyr Murphy, in voluntarily bear
Ing the sins of Others to the extent of going to |
prison, does not promise to be very potent |
kind of salvation for the drink sellers.
The kennebec journal says: Deputy Col |
lectOr Murphy has received no applications for |
special liquor tax stamps for the term com |
mencing May 1st, As yet, although usually at
this time he has had many. The liquor dealers |
are awaiting with much concern the decision of |
the Law Court Oh the adysabiliiy of the copy |
of Collector Re,lman's records, as secondary |
evidence i'll the Hall ease. Mr.. Heath having |
carried the questions up on exceptions.
The Boston liquor dealers, now that the new |
liquor laws have been passed, flooding the |
country with circulars which they send to pr- |
vate citizens. announcing Il reduction of prices |
in New England rum and other liquors.
Charles Il. Haskell, an aged farmer who |
i,rpp of fI., lax
OF cider, was sent to the county Jail in Lewis
ton for sixty DAYS.
On adjournment of the Superior Court at
Augusta, Monday, Murphy released from |
JAIL where he had been confined eleven DAYS
THE STORY GRAVES TELLS.
Calvin Graves, the murderer of the game |
wardens, arrived at Bangor i'll charge of the |
officers April 18th. Grayes's story Of his es- |
cape fatty contradicts rumors heretofore atioat |
about his passing through Bangor in female |
clothes. He gave representative of the Wing |
the following account: ''McFarland and |
separated soon after the shooting was done. | |
got boat and rowed for three nights, laying
quiet by day. until reached Fox Island. 20 |
miles from Rockland. There found several |
vessels loaded for sea. and went on board, in |
tending to ship, but finding room on a vessel |
bad a good chance to stow myself away. While |
the crew was away carried food to this hid |
ing place and remained in hiding for several |
days. In the meantime the vessel had gone to |
IoTlsIlloutH. n. H., WneTe lett her ana made |
my way to California, stopping off several DAYS |
en- route" He persists that the shooting was |
done in self-defence, and declares that he in
tended to come home for trial when the ey-
element had subsidized He was very quiet |
throughout the journey, making the officers no |
trouble. While in California Graves obtained !
an appointment as constable at Anaheim, and |
when arrested had in his pocket warrant for |
the arrest of man named Springer for the |
murder of his wife, and for whom the Oakland |
police were then looking.
PROFIT SHARING IN THE SHOE BUSINESS
At a meeting of the mill operatives of Ara |
Cushman & Co., the Auburn shoe manufacture
ers, last Thursday the committee appointed |
year ago by the operatives to enter upon svs-
TEN of profit sharing submitted by the firm |
made their report, which was received with a |
perfect storm of applause. The system has
been in operation a year. The firm was to
share the profits with the employees above a |
specified reasonable amount. The committee
reported the volume of business done by Ara
Cushman & Co., at 81 1863 1862 &c. The firm
has paid out to employees for labor 1888 ,2A.G7.
Upon this sum a dividend of per cent,
amounting to Sll ,529.7s is declared. This sum |
Is to be paid over, pro rata, to the employees. in |
addition to the present weeks pay. 1t is the |
largest years business ever done by the firm. |
The result Of the first years trial of profit |
c1arsp Il